telecommunications links to each other.

In Barbados last week, telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless were joined by telecommunications professionals, government and business leaders from around the Caribbean for the company's inauguration of the $60.4-million Eastern Caribbean Fibre System (ECFS).

The ceremony was hosted by C&W CEO and deputy chairman, Mr. James Ross, and regional director with responsibility for Bermuda, Caribbean and Latin America, Mr. Geoff Wiggin.

Mr. Wiggin said, "The investment of over $60 million in the ECFS is just one element of Cable & Wireless' long term programme of investment in the Caribbean. Over the past five years, we have invested over $1,000 million in the region, with plans to invest an equivalent amount over the next five years.'' Cable & Wireless said the ECFS is capable of meeting all foreseeable needs in capacity and transmission quality and offers enhanced levels of reliability and operational efficiency.

The company said that it was the world's most advanced telecommunications cable link, covering 1,730 kilometres from the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south. The 12 intermediate territories that are linked are Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Kitts & Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Grenada.

The new system will connect with the Americas 1 and CARAC cable systems. The CARAC system extends southward from Bermuda to Tortola.

Replacing the existing Digital Eastern Caribbean Microwave System, the new cable will carry the main international and inter-island transmission traffic of the Eastern Caribbean.

The cable system is resilient, virtually impervious to hurricanes, adding extra security to the region's existing systems. Before the planned date for commencement of commercial operations, the ECFS was brought into action to enable C&W to maintain its service, during volcanic activity in Montserrat and the aftermath of Hurricane Luis. The ECFS is currently the largest unrepeated system in the world, which means that the majority of maintenance tasks can be carried out at land based terminal stations.